Playbooks

Orbit RPO Zone Alert

Shotgun·Trips TE·11

RPO Motion Pass Play Run Play

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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrips TE

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Orbit RPO Zone Alert out of Shotgun Trips TE is a true run-pass option built off an orbit motion man who sweeps behind the quarterback pre-snap, giving you a numbers read on the flat before the ball is even snapped. The zone alert tag pairs an inside zone run with a bubble or flat concept from the trips side, so the quarterback reads the flowing linebackers and slot defender to decide between handing off or pulling and throwing the RPO route. This is a zone beater at its core since it punishes light boxes and soft flat defenders, and the primary read progression is orbit motion defender leverage first, then linebacker flow to the mesh point, then the RPO throw if the box stays heavy.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check safety depth and cornerback alignment on the trips side, a single high safety with tight corner leverage signals man coverage and favors the run action. Post-snap, key the play side linebacker's first step, if he crashes toward the run fake and vacates his zone, the RPO throw to the bubble or flat is wide open. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow zone or lurking near the mesh point, this is the primary threat that can jump the RPO throw and bait a bad read. Zone blitzes with a defensive back dropping into the flat can shut down the RPO throw, so recognize the extra defender rotating down before committing to the pass option. Cover 2 shells with linebackers sitting at depth tend to take away both the quick RPO throw and the cutback lanes, forcing the offense into a tougher handoff read against a stacked box.

Usage Tips

Watch the flow of the second level defenders before the snap, if the slot corner or overhang defender follows the orbit motion man out of the box, pull the ball and throw the RPO immediately for a numbers advantage.

Use this on early downs like first and second and short to medium yardage since the run threat keeps linebackers honest and sets up explosive RPO throws later in the drive.

If the defense shows a two high shell with soft zone drops, key the flat defender's depth and throw the bubble or flat route quickly before the corner can close.

Pair this play with Reload RPO Zone Alert Bubble and RPO Zone Alert Bubble in the same set to keep the defense guessing on which side the bubble route triggers from.

Against aggressive run blitzes with linebackers crashing downhill, pull the ball on the RPO read since the vacated underneath zone opens up an easy completion.